DIY Tips

Our helpful plumbing hints to help avoid and fix your at-home issues!

Leaking Pipes

A higher than normal water bill might be your first indication of a leaking pipe. Or you might hear the sound of running water even when all your fixtures are turned off. When you suspect a leak, check the fixtures first to make sure all the faucets are tightly closed. Then go to the water meter, if you have one. If the dial is moving, you’re losing water somewhere in the system. Call Horizon Service and we will locate and fix your leak fast: 1 (817) 461-1117

Foundation Problems

Raised floors, doors that no longer close or cracks in the wall or ceiling may be a result of a leak under your foundation. If you are experiencing these types of issues, call us out to test your sewer and water system for any leaks. Doing so can save you time and money.

Pipes Squeaking

Only hot water pipes squeak. As the pipe expands, it moves in its strap, and friction causes the squeak.

Solution: Cushion it as you would a banging pipe.

Water Hammer

This noise occurs when you turn off the water at a faucet or an appliance quickly. The water flowing through the pipes slams to a stop, causing a hammering noise.

Check for: Loose PipesSolution: Anchor the pipes.

Check for: Faulty air chambers. These lengths of pipe, installed behind fixtures and appliances, hold air that cushions the shock when flowing water is shut off. They can get filled with water and lose their effectiveness.Solution: To restore air to the chambers, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve. Open all the faucets to drain the system. Close the faucets and turn the water on again. The air chambers should fill with air.

Clogged Drains

We do not recommend using chemicals to unstop drain clogs. Over the counter chemicals are dangerous to use and can cause damage to your plumbing system. Personal injury to your skin and/or eyes can occur. The best way to unclog drains is by plunger, mechanical removal or jetter. First check that the drain stopper’s opening fully or removed. Make sure the drain opening is free of all debris. If the stopper isn’t the problem, then the drainpipe is probably clogged. Try a plunger if that fails to do the job. Give us a call: 1 (817) 461-1117

Preventing Kitchen Drain Clogs

No plumbing problem is more common or more frustrating than a clogged kitchen sink. These clogs are most often caused by a buildup of grease and food particles. Taking some simple precautions will help you avoid stop-ups:
✘ Don’t pour grease down the kitchen sink.
✘ Don’t wash coffee grounds down the sink. Throw them out.
✘ Avoid or be sparing with chemical cleaners, particularly if you have brass, steel, or cast-iron traps and drainpipes; some caustic chemicals can corrode metal pipes.

Clogged Showers

Though it may difficult to unclog a shower drain with a plunger, it’s worth a try. If that doesn’t work give Horizon Service a call: 1 (817) 461-1117

Best Way To Use A Plunger

The plunger is a good drain-clearing tool, but it often fails to work because it’s incorrectly used. Don’t make the typical mistake of pumping up and down two or three times, expecting the water to whoosh down the drain. Though no great expertise is needed to use this simple tool, here are a few tips for you:

✓ Choose the right tool: a plunger with a suction cup large enough to cover the opening of the completely.
✓ Coat the rim of the plunger cup with petroleum jelly to ensure a tight seal.
✓ Fill the clogged fixture with enough water to entirely cover the plunger cup.
✓ Block off all other outlets (the overflow, second drain in a double sink, adjacent fixtures) with wet rags.
✓ Insert the plunger into the water at an angle so no air remains trapped under it.
✓ Be sure to exert 15 to 20 forceful strokes, hold the plunger upright and continue to pump vigorously.
✓ Repeat the plunging two or three times before giving up.

Lots of homes make unwanted noises don’t panic. In most cases these sounds are common. Most homes today are built with PVC and Pex pipe which are flexible and subject to expansion and contraction. This small movement can cause noises that sound like a leak. If you feel that the noise is not normal, let our plumbing professionals analyze the situation.

We do not recommend the use of hazardous chemicals to clear a drain. There are organic non-hazardous chemicals that can be used to keep build up from forming in your pipes that Horizon Plumbing can provide. The Bio Clean product that we use is all organic and will not harm you or your plumbing. It is a preventative measure and will not unclog a drain which is already stopped up.